By VALERIE HANLEY
Published: | Updated:
Some serving and former members of the Air Corps believe that their children were born with abnormal genetic conditions, rare heart defects and autism after being exposed to hazardous chemicals.
It is also claimed that several Defence Forces members became infertile and that their partners had multiple unexplained miscarriages because they were not properly protected while working at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, west Dublin.
The allegations emerged as one of the whistleblowers involved in exposing the toxic chemicals scandal in the Air Corps is due to be interviewed by the Defence Forces Tribunal this week.
In a behind-closed-doors preliminary hearing, the whistleblower will allege some children of serving and former members died from rare cancers, rare heart defects and brain tumours.
He claims others were born with Down syndrome, malrotated intestines, and chromosomal disorders.
The whistleblower – who has already made a series of protective disclosures to ministers, Defence Forces commanders and the Health and Safety Authority – will further allege some Air Corps members died prematurely because they were not given adequate Personal Protective Equipment and training to protect them from hazardous chemicals.
The allegations emerged as one of the whistleblowers involved in exposing the toxic chemicals scandal in the Air Corps is due to be interviewed by the Defence Forces Tribunal this week.
He will also tell tribunal investigators how he was threatened with dismissal when he made a complaint after being asked to remove asbestos powder while wearing only flip-flops, shorts and a gym vest.
The whistleblower and other members of the Defence Forces believe they, and their partners and children, developed serious health and infertility problems after they were exposed to toxic chemicals.
After the preliminary hearing, the tribunal will decide if the evidence will then be examined at public hearings.
The Defence Forces Tribunal was set up in 2024 after former and serving members revealed how they were bullied and physically and sexually abused while serving in the military.
Some serving and former members of the Air Corps believe that their children were born with abnormal genetic conditions, rare heart defects and autism after being exposed to hazardous chemicals
Tribunal chair and Court of Appeal judge Ann Power is investigating if complaints of abuse were ‘actively deterred’, and if there were reprisals against those who made the complaints.
Allegations about how the Defence Forces responded to complaints about hazardous chemicals at the Air Corps HQ in Baldonnel also come under the tribunal’s terms of reference.
Last year, the State agreed to pay €2 million to former aviation technician Gary Coll, who was based at the Air Corps’s Casement Aerodrome between 1991 and 1997.
Last year, the State agreed to pay €2 million to former aviation technician Gary Coll, who was based at the Air Corps’s Casement Aerodrome between 1991 and 1997
Allegations about how the Defence Forces responded to complaints about hazardous chemicals at the Air Corps HQ in Baldonnel also come under the tribunal’s terms of reference
The once-talented athlete claimed that he had developed serious health problems after being exposed to toxic chemicals, and his case was subsequently settled without the Defence Forces accepting liability.
In his statement of claim, the Donegal man described how he was exposed to toxic chemicals as part of a military ‘hazing’ initiation ritual called ‘tubbing’.
Hazing is the term used in military circles to describe how junior members of the Defence Forces are punished or become more accepted by their more senior colleagues after they go through an initiation ritual.
In the Air Corps, ‘tubbing’ involved colleagues dousing each other with chemicals.
In his evidence, the whistleblower will also describe how he was stripped and tied to a stretcher as part of this ‘hazing’ ritual.
He will further claim he and other Air Corps members were not given any health and safety training about the use of chemicals, and how he was unable to report being ‘tubbed’ because some of his superiors were involved or present at the ritual.
It is understood that up to 20 cases are being brought against the State by serving and former Air Corps members – including the whistleblower – who claim they were exposed to toxic chemicals.
The Defence Forces have been contacted for comment.
